Injury-ravaged team India proved its mettle on the first day of the fourth and last test match. Debutant T Natarajan picked the crucial wickets of centurion Marnus Labuschagne and Matthew Wade to keep the visitors in the game after Labuschagne roared back to form and took advantage of the inexperience of the Indian bowling attack to register his fifth Test century.
At stumps, skipper Tim Paine (38) and Cameron Green (28) stood tall as the score read 274/5. Building on the knock from Labuschagne (108), the duo stitched an unbeaten 61-run stand to help the hosts end the day with the honours.
A home ground hundred to remember for @marnus3cricket! 🔥@hcltech | #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ACcRzq3AiH
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 15, 2021
Problems don’t seem to abate for team India with Navdeep Saini joining the list of the injured players in his 8th over. He was taken for scans after complaining of groin pain. BCCI said that Saini was being monitored by the medical team after the player walked off the ground due to pain in his groin. Later, the Indian board in the latest update said the speedster had gone for scans.
Navdeep Saini has complained of pain in his groin. He is currently being monitored by the BCCI medical team.#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/NXinlnZ9W5
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 15, 2021
In the absence of speedster Jasprit Bumrah, Siraj and Shardul Thakur bagged a wicket each to remove openers early on day one.
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The second session saw Washington Sundar send back Smith against the run of play, but Labuschagne and Wade didn’t allow the visitors to grab the opportunity to go for the kill. 27 overs were bowled in the second session in which the hosts scored 89 runs for the loss of one wicket.
What a moment for Washington Sundar! His first Test wicket is the superstar Steve Smith! #OhWhatAFeeling@Toyota_Aus | #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ZWNJsn0QNN
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 15, 2021
The final session was shared as India picked the wickets of Labuschagne and Wade while Paine and Green held fort to keep the Australians on top of the Indian bowling.
Gabba Pitch
The Gabba pitch would favour the spinners after the third day of the game. Cricket experts are also questioning the selection of Washington Sundar over Kuldeep Yadav. He has played 6 test matches with decent records in his kitty. Out of 6 matches, he has scalped 24 wickets with an average of 24.12.
The Gabba wicket is pretty balanced with something in it for both the batters and bowlers. Australia have won 40 of their 62 Tests at the venue. Nathan Lyon hasn’t had much success in the series so far but holds a good record at the Gabba with 35 wickets to his name in Tests at the venue.
India have finished #Kuldeep Yadav’s confidence in all formats of the game and his #IPL franchise too👎 #AUSvIND
— Chirag Shah (@ichiragShAh) January 15, 2021
I really can‘t understand the idea of going with Washington sundar as the lone spinner. Apart from that wicket of smith , he doesn’t look like picking a wicket as well.
If you can’t get 10 wickets in test match , you can’t expect to win as well.#INDvsAUS #brisbanetest #kuldeep
— Sreek_Kiran_CRIC (@cric_kiran) January 15, 2021
So, again there thinking is so different than us!
Mayank instead of Saha – I understand
But do you guys really think Sundar is better choice then Kuldeep? #AUSvIND #BorderGavaskarTrophy #INDvAUS #brisbanetest #IndiavsAustralia #Gabba #GabbaTest #kuldeep #WashingtonSundar— Bhautik Mehta (@bhautik_pm) January 15, 2021